New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-05

consideration we win not disclose secret KNOW,
edge of which might interfere with the reaa-
ers interest in the denouemenf, ana the
story is interesting. 1t has moonshiners anu
negro prophecies, and an earthquake ana run,
oways and storms and shootings and what not al
seasoned with an abundance OF the most pronounced
dialect that ever affronted the English Language.
II is well worth the hour or two bestowed upon IL
in short and particularly suited to hammock read
ing
The second number of Ticknors Paper Series,
another issue of old and new stories Tor the sPeca
use and behoof of the summer soJourner anu
saunterer, is bright and lively story by no means
too con, entional. The story is of a wonan-ha'ine
American who is disguised TO find himself cooped
nm ON hoard n sailing ship on the long voyage
tn China in company with persoDabIe young
woman. He VOWS that he will not be more tnan
civil to her: nay in his FIRST wrath he contemplates
making the voyage disagreeabe TO her. but tine
captain has his wife aboard. and she and the soil
tary woman passenger are old friends, ana events
happen and plots are laid. and by the time China
is reached the woman-hater is nearly tanned though
it takes three years Of supplemental wanderngs 10
work all the nonsense out of him. The voyage Is
enlivened and diversified By incidents such as DO
not often occur at sea, and they are cievefN
described, though not with the manner or fuliness
of knowledge characterizng CLARK RusseifS sea
stories There is not much attempt at character
painting The people are amusing and toleraby
interesting, but not realistic. Their talk is sane
enough but rather commonplace. But the motive
ia sure 70 please the majority, inasmuch as all
women like to see woman-hater conquered. while
most men are ticked by the spectacle OF fate
which they know themselves powerless to escape
when their time shall come
Mr. Phillips gives his story the subtitle
Sketch in OIL" and this gives the ciew toit. Inc
Devils Hat is the local name of a certain hill IN
the Pennsylvania oil regions and upon or near TINS
hill well is sunk In n secret way, ana WIN
remarkable consequences. The book IS fuli OF OH
society much of the toughest kind. NO DOUBT u
embodies personal observation. the description OF
scenery, of the effects of the oil boom upon the
aspect of the country, ev;ncing careful study,
and also an eye for the picturesque and grotesqne
One of the characters is a particularly energetic
and "go-ahead editor" who appears to have
been everything conceivable but an honest man;
and for that calling he shows no aptitude.
really interesting person Is lickly-bender, the
torpedoer, one of those reckless fellows who
are continually driving carloads of dynamite
through rouC.i country roads roads, IN the
pursuit of their business Of shooting reluctant OIL
wells The tOrpedoer is of course certain TO be
blown up eventually. His Standardization by dyn-
amite is only question of time Sometimes when
the event occurs the dispersion Is so complete that
nothing can be found TO bold an inquest upon
But the Tickly- Benders are never discouraged by
the thinning-out process going ON around them
There is a love story under the Devils Hat and 1t
is emotional enough TO satisfy the most eXacting
reader. The novel is not without some power, but
IT is crude and raw in parts The author may do
better If he perseveres, At present no offers more
promise than pc rformance.